DONALD TRUMP wants Irish taxpayers to foot the bill after he furloughed staff at his luxury golf resort in Doonbeg, Co. Clare.
It was revealed yesterday that the billionaire was seeking help from the Irish Government to cover the wages of the majority of his staff after many were laid off as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Doonbeg chief Joe Russell said: "We've laid off the vast majority of our staff."
"We are ensuring they're looked after in terms of the Government schemes that are available."
He declined to say how many had been furloughed or simply let go under the Government's wage subsidy programme, but the resort can employ up to 300 staff members at peak times of the year.
The Government programme, which has been running for several week since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, pays companies to cover 70% of furloughed staff's wages, so long as they're kept on the pay roll.
It's a scheme designed to help businesses keep their heads above water during these unprecedentedly uncertain times, but should it be used by self-proclaimed billionaires?
The Trump Organization is seeking help for the UK government as well, to pay staff at a number of golf resorts Mr Trump owns in Scotland too.
In the US, however, the President's interests are specifically banned from taking advantage of any wage subsidy scheme, which resulted in roughly 2,000 staff members being dismissed from Trump-owned resorts and hotels.
Despite the controversial move to furlough staff at his Doonbeg resort, local business owner Rita McInerney thinks that The Trump Organization is doing the right thing.
"If by availing itself of government subsidies it keeps the business employing people here, then of course they should use it," Ms McInerney said.
"The Trump Organization have been very good to the local community."
